Reprint of CBS article

Feb
21, 2006 8:47 pm US/Mountain

Pink, Brown Snow Concerns
Avalanche Experts

(CBS4)SUMMIT COUNTY, Colo. A weather phenomenon that was responsible for
turning snow pink and brown in Summit County may also create avalanches.

Dust blowing in from Arizona got mixed up in a storm system over Colorado's
mountains and it created a pinkish-brown layer in the snow. The crusty layer of
the snow has avalanche experts concerned.

"This layer right underneath can change into a granular substance, very
grainy, very small structures that can break apart easily," said Nick Logan
from the Colorado Avalanche Information Center. "So we can have a layer
underneath the dust layer now that's subject to collapse and that can slip out
of place."

The Avalanche Center is urging everyone to be extremely cautious in the back
country for the next few months.